Currently I have my Sky wifi router downstairs, then a hard wired connection going upstairs to a switch that feeds a few games consoles. Problem is if
I try and use wifi upstairs it's not good. My phone in particular has trouble.
Is there anything I can plug into the router upstairs to create a new wifi access point? Is there anything I'll need to consider in order for
that new access point to be able to get to the internet?
Yes, you could do it with simple plug in booster.
Alternatively add a 2nd wifi router - I was forced to do this with my new virgin router as it wasn't compatible with my Nest thermostat so I
added a my old wifi router which was compatible.
Heres what i noted down on what i did (obviously isnt router specific)
Check the main router's IP range (DHCP settings) and make a note (mine started at 192.168.0.10 and had 100 CPEs, so up to 192.168.0.110) others
show a 'from and to' range, disconnect the main router, connect the second router, edit the DHCP setting and change the LAN IP of the 2nd
router to something outside the range ( I chose 192.168.0.111), i then disabled the DHCP tick box. If you need to edit the setting of the 2nd router,
you visit 192.168.0.111 instead of 0.01, the main router is still on 192.168.0.1
You can keep the wifi names/passwords the same but you will need to choose different channels for each wifi network to do this.
[Edited on 28-2-17 by loggyboy]
have you tried power line plugs ? if you have a newer house then this may help, some older houses it is not so good.
The second wifi router is what I was considering, that setup sounds reasonable. No point in boosting what's there, it's still not going to
get upstairs and most boosters reduce signal spread in exchange for distance (so potentially reducing what I have downstairs).
Powerline plugs are not what I'm after, I've already got a wired connection from downstairs to upstairs. Things like phones and tablets
can't use ethernet but they also can't deal with weak signals.
You can get power line ones that also have a wifi booster in them
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/WiFi-Boosters/TL-WPA4220KIT-V1-20-Powerline-Extender-Configuration-Smartphone-UK/B01LXOZ4EN/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=U
TF8&qid=1488287998&sr=8-1&keywords=powerline+wifi
WiFi Access point.
You don't need a router just use an AP connected via ethernet to the router
Something like this
http://www.ebuyer.com/707146-tp-link-eap110-300mbps-wireless-n-access-point-eap110?mkwid=sMPX0NBIo_dc&pcrid=51482427899&pkw=&pmt=&gcli
d=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77byNkgYjzNekO5Ff1QKhtYB6MIow28FIGg9j8VL7KzhoC7M_w_wcB
quote:
Originally posted by jeffw
WiFi Access point.
You don't need a router just use an AP connected via ethernet to the router
Something like this
http://www.ebuyer.com/707146-tp-link-eap110-300mbps-wireless-n-access-point-eap110?mkwid=sMPX0NBIo_dc&pcrid=51482427899&pkw=&pmt=&gcli d=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77byNkgYjzNekO5Ff1QKhtYB6MIow28FIGg9j8VL7KzhoC7M_w_wcB
I used my old BT router to stretch the wifi upstairs. I have it wired from the downstairs router and then changed the IP addy on the BT unit. It works great.
I was consistently pissed off with the wifi strength from my router, it isn't situated in an ideal place either, but i didn't want to move
it. I have run some cat 6 into the loft and have a Ubiquity access point installed on the landing ceiling.
It is awesome. Never needs rebooting or messing with, I have a separate network set up on there for the kids, which is restricted to certain times.
I have quite a few wireless cameras too.
I have this one
http://www.ebuyer.com/744689-ubiquiti-uap-ac-pro-unifi-ac1750-indoor-outdoor-simultaneous-dual-band-wifi-poe-access-point-uap-ac-pro?mkwid=s_dc&pc
rid=51482427899&pkw=&pmt=&gclid=CjwKEAiA3NTFBRDKheuO6IG43VQSJAA74F77Eq5MXWI722do41fJvOiWccVYe1xdZcagVWorMQVcnRoCXD3w_wcB
there is a cheaper one too
http://www.ebuyer.com/735739-ubiquiti-unifi-ap-radio-access-point-uap
This way beats boosting signals or repeating them which is a bit of a shonky way of doing it.
Interesting thread.
Our phone line used to arrive downstairs in our house (1970's built). We used to suffer poor WiFi coverage upstairs. After some faffing I ran
the phone line upstairs (above the old point) and moved the WiFi router upstairs with it. We now have ample WiFi coverage throughout the house and
garden (laptops, tablets, phones etc). Cost me some phone wire and a tool to terminate the wire into the back of a socket + a couple of hours
fiddling about. Cheap, easy and successful 